My friend, Anya, has been telling me for months that I needed a whiteboard to practice my free-motion quilting designs on, and after doodling through more than a few legal pads, I finally took her advice and got myself a whiteboard. Practicing on a whiteboard isn't as much about developing the design as it is repeating the motif over and over until it becomes a natural movement for your hand. Basically, practicing on a white board helps take some of the awkwardness out of quilting a new motif before you attempt it on a quilt. Hopefully it will help me with my free-motion quilting...at the very least I will save a few trees!
About Me
- Susan
- I am a wife, mama and grandmama getting through life by hanging on to a needle and thread.
Sunday, January 3, 2010
Quilting On A Whiteboard
My friend, Anya, has been telling me for months that I needed a whiteboard to practice my free-motion quilting designs on, and after doodling through more than a few legal pads, I finally took her advice and got myself a whiteboard. Practicing on a whiteboard isn't as much about developing the design as it is repeating the motif over and over until it becomes a natural movement for your hand. Basically, practicing on a white board helps take some of the awkwardness out of quilting a new motif before you attempt it on a quilt. Hopefully it will help me with my free-motion quilting...at the very least I will save a few trees!
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14 comments:
I've heard of practicing FMQing like this. Are you finding it helpful? Goodness knows I can use all the help available!
Thanks for this tip! I just finished my first FMQ project and although I used a piece of paper, it truly looks like a beginner's project. Practicing on a whiteboard makes lots of sense.
I've found if I can draw it, I can quilt it (and I can't draw very well). Like you I have have lots of note pads with scribbles on them. I thought about a white board and changed my mind...I think I'm going to have to change it again.
What a great idea. I'll go get a white board today!
SewCalGal
www.sewcalgal.blogspot.com
Humm, maybe I will have to get one too. I have heard that it helps. How are those new dvd's? Any good secrets?
I am going to have to get me a white board...
You are going to love this tool!! I bought my grandkids the new glow~doodle boards for Christmas and I was playing with them so much I think I will see one for my birthday~they are also great to help explain to customers what you have in mind for their quilts..
Happy New Year!!
Susan, what a great idea. It would certainly allow you to loosen your wrist and allow the design to follow so much more freely.
Happy New Year Susan. Great idea to use a white board to practice your free motion quilting. Never would have thought of that. I may have to "borrow" my daughter's and give it a try.
Using a white board sounds like such a logical way to practice those quilting lines and designs.
I have a coupon to redeem at Staples. Now I know just what to get. Thanks for the tip!
I'm so going to get one, thanks for the reminder, I've been promising myself for ages.
Ooo now there's an idea- I had prongs on my attempt with Gardener's Journal where I tried to twist too suddenly. With sore shoulders it's hard to keep up the fluidity. I'll have a try with this technique and see if it helps. Thanks Susan.
Yes it was fun now Christmas is over to make something in my style just for me. :-)
great idea
When I first got my longarm and went for my day of training, that's one of the first things they told me, and I went right home and got one, and it has helped so much. You're right, it trains your hand and eye for muscle memory so that when you go to the machine, you can just draw the design like you've been doing it all along! And it doesn't matter when you mess up on the whiteboard!
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